Crying and Redbull

Chapter 6

Josh noticed how well Tyler and Jenna got along. Truthfully, all three of them got along well, but Josh couldn't help but feel as if he was third-wheeling whenever they would take him to places.

"Josh, wanna come with us to the movies?"

"Josh, come join us! We're gonna go eat out and walk around at the mall."

"Josh, let's go to this cool festival!"

Josh became jealous, but wouldn't talk about it. Tyler noticed after a few weeks of starting up a relationship with Jenna that his best friend was acting differently. However, when confronting him about it, the drummer would deny any allegations of jealousy towards the couple.

  A sick part of his brain wanted to expose some private part of Tyler to Jenna.  Something from his not-too-distant past, or things that he struggles with, or different fears he has. 

  It wasn't that he hated Tyler, or even hated Jenna, but whenever Josh saw the two laughing and smiling, the drummer couldn't help but feel as if Jenna was slowly taking Tyler away.  Josh wanted to be what made Tyler smile like that, not Jenna.  Josh wanted to be the one that Tyler confided in, not Jenna.  Josh wanted to be the one that made Tyler happy, not Jenna.

  But isn't it good now that he's smiling?  That he's having fewer broken nights in bed?

   Yes, and no.  Josh wanted to be 100% towards Tyler, and vice versa.  He didn't want a perfect blonde lady to get in the middle of it.

  He knew what he was gonna do later that night at their joint dinner might be unforgivable if it doesn't go to his standards, but he just needed to know.  He needed to try.

-----

  Jenna, Tyler, and Josh were sitting at a booth in a nice restaurant.  Josh sat at one side of the table, while Jenna and Tyler sat on the other.  One plus side of being a third-wheel was that you got a whole booth seat to yourself. 

  The conversation began lightly, jokes and one-liners being told here and there.  All sipped on their drinks while they waited for their dinner. 

  Their dinner finally came:  Josh ordered a steak, as did Tyler.  Jenna ordered a hot, creamy bowl of chowder.

  After they prayed for their food, the trio (more like duo plus Josh, in Josh's eyes) eagerly ate their food.

  "Mmm, this is a really good restaurant, Tyler!"  Jenna moaned with satisfaction.  She continued eating her chowder, not oblivious to the stare of admiration coming from her boyfriend.

  This is it.  It's now or never.

  "So, hey, Jenna," Josh began, taking another bite out of his medium rare sirloin.

  "Mm?"  she hummed in reply.

  "Did Tyler ever mention, um-"

No.  Don't do it.

"-did he ever mention that he-"

Don'tdoitdon'tdoitdon'tdoit-

"-used to damage himself?"

Tyler's fork dropped with a clink as he couldn't believe what he just heard.  Jenna almost choked on her chowder.  Not out of shock or disgust, but because she didn't think she heard Josh correctly.

  "Ahem, sorry.  What do you mean damage himself?"  Jenna turned to her boyfriend, who could care less about his girlfriend at the moment.

  His eyes were wide at Josh.  "Dude, what the heck?!" he whispered. 

  "I just-- I just thought, since it's kind of an important aspect of your life, that you know, you might have already shared it with her?"  Josh said in his best nonchalant voice, sipping his water afterwards.

  Jenna's voice lowered considerably, to avoid other people's attention.  "Tyler, is this true?"

  Tyler was speechless.  "Jenna, I-I-"

  Jenna grabbed Tyler's hand and walked out of the booth.  "Let's go outside for a minute and talk about this."

  Josh grinned and finished his steak.  He turned his head to watch the couple.  But he didn't realize how badly his plan could backfire.

  He didn't hear a thing they said, but it was clear what happened.  Jenna's face was soft the entire time, while Tyler's was afraid and stained with tears.  At one point, Jenna stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Tyler's neck while Tyler's body shook from what appeared to be sobs.  Minutes passed until they pulled apart for Tyler to clean himself up and the two to come back inside.

  "What happened, you guys?"  Josh asked, his voice in mock surprise.

  "Well, Tyler told me everything.  He said he was gonna spill at one point but he wanted to find the right time.  I told him that even though I don't know how he feels, I have known plenty of people in his shoes and I'll always be there to comfort him."

  Tyler smiled shyly, burying his face in Jenna's hair and nuzzling her.

  Well, that backfired.

A/N:  okay guys at one point check out my other stories and thanks for the reads and votes lol